Elvis also said he forgave red and sadly wished they could talk of the old days like before. All shook up sheet music compendium of the stage play from. Do read this book, but dont finish and even think you know elvis. West and his coauthors, fellow memphis mafia members and elvis bodyguards sonny west a cousin, who died march 24 and david hebler, assisted by steve dunleavy, a. As a chronicle of the kings mainstream breakthrough year and thus a critical year in american pop culture elvis 56 is a breathtaking document. From the same producer who did the widely acclaimed cds elvis. I love elvis and have read 5 or 6 other books that cherry coat everything. He was known for being a close confidant and bodyguard for rock and roll singer elvis presley. I do think a lot of this maybe true but at the same time it seems it was written to get back at. Elvis former producer, director, and band leader, al dvorin, said, bob is one of the best at portraying elvis. This year joseph tunzi celebrates 20 years of jat productions.
West and presley became great friends at humes high school. The book, which is based on the personal accounts of three of elvis former bodyguards, went into detail on the singers dangerous drugdependence. The people that put us down before they read it, then theyre wrong, jeff. Passing completely unnoticed in the same year was the thirtieth anniversary of the most shocking and influential elvis biography ever writtenelvis. He is the epitome of what elvis would have wanted as a salute.
Elvis presley 19351977 theres no description for this book yet. Red west was working on an autobiography before his death last july. Red elvises have performed for large festivals, private parties, and played on massive stages such as 2005s live 8 benefit concert. Robert red west, who has died aged 81, was an actor, stuntman, songwriter and longtime stalwart of elvis presleys memphis mafia who shocked fans by publishing a. The ring, size 10, was gifted by elvis to pat west, wife of red and secretary to elvis. Dvorin, whose voice uttered those now famous words, ladies and gentlemen, elvis has left the building. The book is good if you like reading about the not so pretty sides of elvis life.
This 2003 reissue features the same 22 songs including two alternate takes, notably a previously unissued take of heartbreak hotel as the earlier disc, but an uptotheminute remixing and remastering has vastly improved the sound quality. Red west was a close longtime elvis friend who penned a controversial book about the king. Red west and elvis presley were friends ever since the day in high school. Elvis presleys first entourage was his cousins and high school pal red west, eventually other people attached themselves, circling elvis in various degrees of closeness. Recorded primarily in may and june of 1971, elvis now is quintessential 70s elvis presley, an eclectic mix of ballads, rockers, and gospel numbers all seemingly arranged with elvis lavish las vegas stage show very much in mind. Is priscilla, lisa marie, or elvis presley enterprises responsible for the demise of this book. Help me make it through the night had recently been a. Join facebook to connect with bob west and others you may know. Red west, a boyhood friend and member of elvis presleys memphis mafia who appeared in many of the singers movies as well as in road house, black sheep squadron and goodbye solo, has died. Discover the best 2803010 presley, elvis in best sellers.
He first met elvis in high school and went on to work for elvis as a bodyguard until 1976. Upon his firing, west wrote the controversial elvis. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. The following books have been announced for release later in 2006. With elvis has left the building the overlook press, awardwinning british journalist dylan jones does just that. The trio went on to write a controversial tellall about the kings downward spiral, titled, elvis. See more ideas about elvis presley, memphis mafia and elvis presley photos. Sonny west he was a close friend, a trusted confidant and bodyguard for elvis from 1960 until 1976. Sonny west once rode elvis presleys coattails to fame as his best friend and bodyguard, but decades later, the glitz and glamor has faded away. Elvis presley volume 1 sheet music compendium with cd from hal leonard publishing, december 2006, isbn. The book, which is based on the personal accounts of three of elvis former. However, its also a little boring if you already know a lot about elvis since the stories repeat itself and it feels like some half grown man want to show off their boyish adventures and 247 hours of fun and crazy actions. Aliases bobby red west bobby west red west combo real name robert gene west born march 8, 1936 died july 18, 2017 country united states ipi 00032765389 00032765487 00032769769 00032769867 comments actor and songwriter. West talks about elviss generosity and his humor but also talks about his drug usage and his hard headedness with an openness that tells us they tried to help him but also with a feel.
Sonny west seem to write about elviss life and his life without making it all either totally bad or totally good. Truly one of the nicest guys i ever interviewed, we talked about everything elvis. Red west member of elvis presley memphis mafia red west the longtime confidante and bodyguard of elvis presley who became a successful film and television actor. West died july 18, 2017 after suffering an aortic aneurysm at the baptist hospital in memphis. Facebook gives people the power to share and makes the world. Here are 14 new overdubs of some outstanding presley vocals, showcased in new musical settings played by some of todays top musicians. The official collectors edition volume 2on the road. Robert gene red west march 8, 1936 july 18, 2017 was an american actor, film stuntman and songwriter. North, elvis costellos 20th album of new material, follows the deliberately classicist when i was cruel by a mere year, but it feels more the sequel to 1998s burt bacharach collaboration, painted from memory, or even 1993s roundly ignored classical pop experiment, the juliet letters. Elvis what happened by sonny west, first edition abebooks. For more biographical information about red elvises, order or download the book igor and the red elvises by marla j. Red west, the longtime and sometimes critical friend and bodyguard of elvis presley died tuesday night.
A look at a forthcoming book about one of elvis oldest friends. Cousins red west and sonny west had known elvis since highschool, and dave hebler was a part of elvis entourage from 19721976. Gary james interview with elvis bodyguard sonny west. Jones takes an interesting look at how 1977 marked the explosion of punk. The ring comes with a letter from jimmy velvet and bobby red west on elvis presley museum certificate stock and states in part, this large cats eye ring was worn by elvis presley.
In july 1976, red and sonny west, together with dave hebler, were fired by. Junior and gene smith were brothers and were part of elvis world early one, while billy smith, 8 years younger joined the elvis group later and remained his most loyal. Of all of the books that i have read on elvis presley this one seem to be the most genuine. Elvis is the glue that holds the entire entertainment industry in one global market without elvis there wouldnt be a globable market there would just be competing regional ones which is why there can never be another elvis the market is too fragmented and now lesser lights like mariah carey can equal elvis number.
Remembering red and sonny west, members of elvis famous. In 2007 elvis presley fans took special note of the thirtieth anniversary of their idols death. Sparks has opened up on a few details with the book to be release later this year. The book was released two weeks before elvis death on aug. Red west and elvis presley were friends ever since the day in high school when red broke up a plan by some punks in the boys room to give shy outsider elvis an unwanted haircut with a pair of scissors. Red west, elvis presleys boyhood bestie and longtime co. Find the top 100 most popular items in amazon books best sellers. In 78 several of the mm guys called me a liar when i said in 1978 elvis had told me he had spoken with red west in late 1976, and elvis made excuses for red having taken part in authoring that book. Like the previous 68 at 40 book on the 1968 comeback special this book comes full color on glossy paper packed between a two hard covers. Elvis presley phone call with red west in october 1976.
Elvis what happened sonny west, dave hebler as told to steve. Red west, elvis friend and actor, is dead the commercial appeal. Red west interview for the elvis information network. The book compiled the experiences of former presley bodyguards red west, sonny west, and dave hebler, as told to steve dunleavy. Equally as sad are the vitriol hatred blaming red and sonny west for elvis death.
Id numbers open library ol17400564m isbn 10 0345274334 library thing 1851945 goodreads 3582179. Elvis presley sort by featured best selling alphabetically, az alphabetically, za price, low to high price, high to low date, new to old date, old to new elvis. Red west, sonny west and dave hebler got fired in 1976, so they wrote a book about elvis called elvis what happened. Much of the material would have been familiar to a vegas audience even before they heard presley perform it. Bob looks and sounds just like elvis, he puts on a great show.
His death, only two weeks after the books publication in july 1977, made it highly topical and helped boost its. Red west and two other members of thememphis mafia, sonny west and david hebler, were ultimately fired by elvis father, vernon presley, in 1976. West wrote 2 best selling books on his life with presley and in 2011, rlf victor productions brought the film rights to his. Elvis legend has it that west protected presley from bullies a.
His death comes two months after the death of his cousin, sonny west, may 2017. I believe that ginger alden, as any human would, and her family have at times been subjected to terrible commentsthreatsname calling about her relationship with elvis and that is sad. Elvis and red west became close friends when red volunteered to help drive elvis, scotty moore, bill black and dj fontana around the southern us. What happened red west, sonny west, dave hebler, steve.